About Us

We serve community members interested in being a part of the entrepreneurial community focused on startups, technology, and innovation, along with those interested in learning about it.

We believe that in order to have a healthy entrepreneurial community, we need a healthy ecosystem of connected resources. This community consists of entrepreneurs, investors, government, universities, students, service providers, large corporations, etc. These participants, working together with shared passion, are vital to the success of an entrepreneurial community.

Why we build Emerging Prairie

Our goal is to accelerate the growth and development of our communities so the region can create, attract and grow the businesses today that will create its tomorrow. Emerging Prairie is a resource that provides:

A platform to share knowledge, success and experiences

The pulse of the region’s entrepreneurial activity

A network of passionate individuals shaping the region’s future

Our Team

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DR. WILLIAM ADERHOLDT

Co-Founder and Executive Director of Grand Farm

Dr. William Aderholdt is the Executive Director of Grand Farm, a non-profit organization energizing and guiding an innovation ecosystem to solve challenges in agriculture. William joined Grand Farm in 2019 as it was getting started, and was the first hire of the initiative. He helped develop and establish the strategic vision and programs that he now has the opportunity to lead through the immense effort of an extremely talented team. Grand Farm, providing a fresh approach to innovation ecosystems, has been the lead, co-lead, and a consortium member on many of the economic resiliency federal programs established in response to COVID-19 – including NSF Engine Type II, EDA Good Jobs Challenge, and EDA Tech Hubs. It has a nearly 600-acre Innovation Campus in Casselton, North Dakota, where the initiative is headquartered, and teams starting in Georgia and Montana.

William is passionate about the process of innovation — how collaboration, competition, and collision work in chorus to inevitably lead to solutions to the world’s largest challenges. A process which has repeated itself countless times throughout human history, all around the world.

William, his wife Lana, and their two children call Fargo, North Dakota home. Fargo and North Dakota captivated Lana and William during the Fargo Marathon in 2016, during which the decision was made to move there from Montana. William was drawn to the community because it was large enough to make a global impact and small enough to have focus.

He earned both his PhD and Master in Education, and a B.S. in Cell Biology and Neuroscience from Montana State University. While completing his dissertation, he learned software development and data science – providing a foundation of understanding in emerging technologies he now uses every day in his work.

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BLAINE BOOHER

Program Director of Emerging Digital Academy

Blaine Booher is a software engineer who has a passion for community, education, and technology. As the Program Director for Emerging Digital Academy he is excited about the potential impact that EDA will have on the region and the lives of our students. Blaine has been building web-connected software projects for 20 years, including the last 10 years where he ran a technology consultancy that built custom solutions for startups and small businesses. Blaine lives in Fargo with his wife, son, two cats, and too many bicycles. He enjoys fermenting everything and can often be seen riding his bike on rural gravel roads while eating homemade sourdough bread.

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SYDNEY BRUSSEAU

Senior Experiences + Events Manager

Sydney is a Fargo native who graduated from Concordia College with a degree in Communications and Spanish and a minor in Business. Sydney is passionate about helping others reach their goals and is excited to continue to help the Fargo/Moorhead community grow and thrive. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family at the lake and trying out new coffee shops with friends.

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KATIE BURINGTON

Emerging Digital Academy Life Cycle Manager

Katie grew up in Marshall, MN and made her way to Fargo-Moorhead to attend Concordia College, where she graduated in 2011 with degrees in Psychology and Social Work.  Katie is passionate about coaching people on their strengths to help them accomplish their goals.  In her free time she enjoys running, gardening, and playing board games.  She lives in West Fargo with her husband and two energetic kiddos.

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LIZ CAMPBELL

Director of Experiences & Events

Liz Campbell is a connector of people, always wanting to know what makes them tick and how she can help them succeed. Having worked in higher education at both NDSU and Concordia College after graduating from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Minnesota State University, Mankato, Liz thrives on empowering students to discover who they are, what drives them, and bringing that to their everyday lives. Liz was selected for the 2020 “35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program”, an enthusiastic believer of personal development and growth, and can often be found in the front row at concerts, catching up with friends at local breweries and coffee shops, or wandering around Downtown Fargo. She calls Fargo home, where she lives with her husband, Scott, and their adventurous corgi, Toby.

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BRIAN CARROLL

Chief Operating Officer,
Grand Farm Co-Founder

Brian is results-driven leader with extensive experience and success in driving strategic and operational excellence.  Brian spent 8 years as the Site Leader and Director of Advanced Engineering and Launch (AEL) at HERE Technologies and loves helping people plan, optimize, and launch new initiatives. He spent much of his career building high-performing teams in the location content industry, gaining experience in building operations in India, Mexico and Europe. While operations and project management are his primary job functions by day, Brian also enjoys spending time with his family and traveling to interesting places.

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AMANDA CHRISTOPHER

Grand Farm Marketing and Communications Intern

Amanda grew up in Wisconsin and Iowa before moving to Fargo-Moorhead with her family in 2012! She stayed in town to attend MSU Moorhead, currently finishing her undergraduate degree in Studio Art: Drawing and Illustration. Amanda is passionate about connecting with people and their businesses to help them tell their stories out in the community with quality and creativity. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing, going for walks, watching movies and anime, and crocheting. She lives in Fargo with her family and her dog, Rio!

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KAYTLYN COBB

Grand Farm Regional Assistant Director - UGA Grand Farm

Kaytlyn is a Georgia girl through and through. Originally from Northeast Georgia, she traveled to South Georgia and received a degree in Diversified Agriculture from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC). After college she landed in Middle Georgia in the city of Macon and has called this home ever since. Her and her family love sporting events and making memories in their city. Kaytlyn loves local coffee shops, quality time with her people, the local library, loving on kids who enter their home through Foster Care and sometimes running.

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KYLE GLANDER

Accounting Manager

Kyle is a Fargo native with a love for all things North Dakota. He studied Accounting and Wealth Management at the University of Jamestown and attained the CPA designation in 2021. When he's not crunching numbers, Kyle and his wife Maggie can be found at the park with their two dogs, grabbing a pint at one of the local breweries, solving today's crossword puzzle, or taking a road trip to visit a new national park.

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ETHAN GORDER

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Ethan was born and raised in Fargo, ND. He got married in 2024, eloping along the North Shore of Minnesota. He curls on a weekly basis and has been since he was in elementary school. He also tries to take his dog on hikes whenever possible.

He is extremely eager to serve the FM area and help bring to life all things Emerging Prairie & Grand Farm!

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ANDREW JASON

Grand Farm Ecosystem Director

Andrew's entire professional career has been born out of a love of Fargo. During his almost nine years at Spotlight, Andrew worked his way up from unpaid intern to Editorial Director where he oversaw a team of a dozen talented staff in telling the story of Fargo-Moorhead's growth. During those formative professional years, Andrew discovered the work that Emerging Prairie is doing. He is excited about the opportunity to continue growing Fargo into being nationally recognized for its entrepreneurial ecosystem. In his free time, you can find him hiking with his wife and dog, enjoying a beer at the breweries, playing piano or counting down the days until his next trip. 
 
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JENNY LAGERVALL

Research Analyst + Project Coordinator

Growing up in San Diego, Jenny first found her way to Fargo through Emerging Digital Academy, later continuing her journey with the Grand Farm team. She brings a Master’s in Research Psychology from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and works to understand both the data and the human story behind it. Jenny approaches both her work and life with curiosity, a commitment to sustainable growth, and a desire to understand, finding meaning in learning, collaboration, and helping ideas take shape. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, discovering new places, and pursuing her love of learning

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JOHN MANN

Grand Farm Program Manager of Startup Ecosystem

John Mann is an inquisitive learner with a keen interest in the intersection of technology and biology. He is dedicated to constructing an ecosystem that fosters value for startups, investors, and accelerators in agriculture and adjacent sectors. Outside of his professional endeavors, John indulges his curious spirit by engaging in a variety of activities. He can often be found hiking, rollerblading, camping, gaming, or enjoying a good episode of "Psych!" In addition to these hobbies, John shares his home with two little boy cats who provide endless entertainment and frustration.

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NATHAN MARCOTTE

Grand Farm Senior Program Manager of Innovation Technology

Nathan is a graduate of North Dakota State University with a degree in computer science and a minor in entrepreneurship. While at NDSU he co-founded Pathway Ventures, a student-run venture capital fund. He has always had an interest in technology and now combines that with business and entrepreneurship. In his free time, you can find Nathan enjoying the outdoors and a good cup of coffee!

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ANN NOBRIGA

Grand Farm Senior Program Manager of Field Operations

Ann is a project management professional with a background in and passion for plant sciences. Her career has spanned from on-the-ground vegetation management and assisting biological research projects with government agencies and universities to coordinating software development projects and managing biologics manufacturing projects with stakeholders across the globe. Ann loves rural life with her husband by a small Minnesota lake where she gardens, dotes on her backyard chickens and house cat, and enjoys all the wild flora and fauna the area has to offer.

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AMANDA PFAFFE

Ecosystem Program Manager

I currently live in Mapleton, ND with my husband and two Golden Retrievers, Cheddar and Mozzie. We enjoy ice fishing, snowboarding, hockey, and spending time at the lake and my family's farm.

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PRABHAT POUDYAL

Grand Farm Startup Coordinator 

Prabhat Poudyal was born and raised in the Himalayan country of Nepal. He moved to Fargo in 2022 to pursue a master’s degree in Plant Pathology at North Dakota State University, graduating in May 2025. He is excited to continue being part of the Fargo community through his work with Grand Farm and Emerging Prairie. Outside of work, Prabhat enjoys traveling and road trips, playing sports like cricket and badminton, cooking meals at home, and exploring different cultures. He is inspired by Fargo’s strong sense of community and growing agriculture innovation ecosystem and is motivated to help connect people and ideas to create real-world impact.

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ABBY RICKERT

Grants & Operations Coordinator

Abby Rickert is a Fargo native with a degree in music education from the University of North Dakota. After a few years in Kalamazoo, Michigan, post-college, she’s grateful to be back in her hometown, closer to family and putting down roots. Her path has included teaching music to working for her mom’s small business, where she discovered a love for entrepreneurship and creative work.

Abby now co-runs Little Notes Music with her husband, creating joyful, engaging music experiences for families. She’s passionate about supporting community-driven projects and finding meaningful ways to make a difference. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, spending time with family, and staying active whenever she can.

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ASHLYN SCHAUER

Marketing & Communications Manager

Ashlyn is a Jamestown, North Dakota native currently working towards completing her master's degree in Strategic Communication at NDSU. She is involved in a variety of different organizations across NDSU and loves being active in the FM area. Ashlyn is passionate about community engagement and public relations especially when it comes to the Fargo/Moorhead community. In her free time she enjoys playing hockey, traveling, grabbing coffee downtown, and relaxing with friends.

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JADA SCHWINDT

Senior Experiences & Events Coordinator

Jada is a Fargo-Moorhead native who is passionate about uplifting her community. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Minor in Psychology. She enjoys reaching out to the community, assessing their needs, and assisting people in achieving their goals. In her free time, she balances spending time with her family, friends, and 2 crazy cats. She loves photography, going on walks, cooking, and hosting themed dinners!

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AMBER SELENSKY

Experiences & Events Intern

Amber was born and raised in rural Rugby, North Dakota. She moved to Fargo to earn a Bachelor of Science in Management Communication with a minor in Theater from NDSU. She completed this degree as of May 2025. She is the oldest daughter with two younger sisters following. Amber thrives in spaces where creativity is at the forefront. When she's not mapping out ideas or learning a new skill she can be found spending time with friends and family, checking out new restaurants, painting, reading, swimming, fishing, and soaking up the sun.

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KATIE SEVERSON

Chief Financial Officer

Katie, a North Dakota native and NDSU Accounting graduate, brings over a decade of experience in federal funding, grant management, and UG audits. She is passionate about nonprofit work and the collective effort to further the nonprofit’s mission. Katie enjoys meeting new people and learning about different perspectives, experiences, and cultures. In her free time, Katie enjoys camping, traveling, and watching movies with her husband and three children.

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MADI SIMPSON

Director of Marketing

Madi is a lifelong creative and lover of the Fargo-Moorhead area. She's gained real-life experience in the worlds of entrepreneurship and marketing by starting her own sustainable upcycled clothing business in 2018. In her free time, Madi can be found hanging out with her mini poodle Georgie, baking delicious pastries, interrogating strangers about their zodiac signs, tending to her jungle of houseplants, or enjoying an iced vanilla latte from one of the downtown cafes.

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GREG TEHVEN

Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder
Board Member

Greg Tehven is the CEO & Co-founder of Emerging Prairie, an organization creating a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurs, innovators, and technologists, and Co-founder and Board Chair of Grand Farm, an initiative dedicated to finding innovative solutions in agriculture through technology. As a fifth-generation North Dakotan, he is proud to call Fargo home and is passionate about bringing big ideas to the region. Greg holds a degree from the University of Minnesota and has completed Stanford's Graduate School of Business Social Entrepreneurship Executive Course. He is happily married to an entrepreneur and Dad to three wonderful kids.

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VINICIUS TREVISAN

Project Coordinator

I’ve been moving during my life to several different places. But I’m originally from Brazil, where I grew up in a small town in São Paulo State. I grew up working at my family farm, where we grow oranges, which drove me to keep working in the agriculture area. However, my passion for technology and equipment drove me to take a different approach, focusing on innovations and new farming practices. For this reason I eded up being attracted to the FM area, where the innovation, technology and entrepreneurship works together.

I always liked sports and see that as a way to challenge yourself. Biking was one of my favorite sports, as well as running. However, some knee problems forced me to change my sports activities, and today I keep my efforts on working out and lifting weights but always open for new challenges.

About hobbies, it is something that I do not have a specific one. However, I enjoy great times with friends preparing some food, or enjoying nature through activities like fishing, hiking, or camping.

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DAVID VINSON

Emerging Digital Academy Student & Technical Support Specialist

David Vinson all about teaching and solving problems. Whether it's explaining tricky concepts or brainstorming solutions, he's in his element when he's helping others figure things out.

When David is not diving into work challenges, you'll usually find him hanging out with family and friends. Whether it's a night in or an adventurous outing, spending time with his loved ones is what keeps him grounded and inspired. Outside of that, he is all about keeping things interesting and bringing different perspectives to the table.

Bottom line? David is all about making a positive impact, whether it's through experience sharing, lending a hand, or coming up with fresh solutions. Let's tackle those challenges together!

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MATT WENDEL

Chief of Staff

Matt is passionate about creating an ecosystem that advances innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. Matt led marketing and communications for Emerging Prairie, Grand Farm, and Emerging Digital Academy before stepping into the role of Chief of Staff. Prior to that, Matt led communications and public affairs for the Colorado Technology Association to support and advance the state’s tech ecosystem and previously held senior positions in the Speaker's Office of the Colorado House of Representatives where he worked on issues including economic development, agriculture, and technology. He is a North Dakota native and a graduate of Concordia College. Matt lives near downtown Fargo with his wife Lynlee and enjoys being in the outdoors, traveling, and exploring the region.

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KYLE WHITCRAFT

Grand Farm Director of Program Management Office

Kyle is a Montana transplant with a background in process and program development. He loves to learn new things and is energized working in an ever-changing environment. He loves making genuine connections both through work and personally.

In their free time, Kyle and his wife enjoy golfing and spending time with their dogs.

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Our Board Members

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KODEE FURST

BOARD CHAIR

Kodee Furst // Chair
Director, 50 South Capital

Kodee Furst is a Director at 50 South Capital. She is responsible for sourcing and analyzing venture capital and buyout partnership investment opportunities, as well as direct co-investment opportunities. Additionally, she is involved with fundraising activities and portfolio management. Previously, Kodee was a Program Manager at The Nice Center at North Dakota State University, where she supported the organization's mission of entrepreneurship for all. Prior to NDSU, she co-founded and served as the Managing Partner of Annie Capital, a fund that invested in female founders through funding, education and    community development.

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MARY SNAPP

BOARD VICE CHAIR

Mary Snapp

Senior Fellow, Microsoft Corporate External & Legal Affairs

Mary brings her experience and perspective from over 30 years at Microsoft to lead strategic initiatives in the office of the president. She formerly led the team responsible for Microsoft’s philanthropic efforts. That team seeks to invest the company’s strongest assets - technology, money, employee talent, and the company’s voice – to partner with nonprofits and communities to create lasting positive impact. In the most recent fiscal year, Microsoft’s total annual giving surpassed $1 billion, with cash donations of nearly $120 million and in kind donations worth nearly $950 million. Prior to Microsoft Philanthropies, Mary was Deputy General Counsel leading legal support for engineering and services. She led legal support for Bing as a start up and Microsoft Windows as an established operating system. During those years, she led legal support for a number of significant acquisitions. Mary is an active board leader and community volunteer for nonprofit organizations in Seattle and around the country. She currently serves on the board of directors YWCA of Seattle, King, and Snohomish County, The Seattle Art Museum, the National 4-H Council and The Farm Foundation. She also serves her alma mater, University of Michigan, on the President’s Advisory Group. Mary joined the company in 1988 as Microsoft’s fourth attorney, and its first female attorney. 

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MIKE DERHEIM

BOARD SECRETARY

Mike Derheim // Secretary
Co-founder, Bunnycup Winery

Mike Derheim is a lifelong entrepreneur. His entrepreneurial journey started at the age of 15 with his first company, and continued as he has co-founded and operated companies across a variety of industries. In 2003, Mike co-founded a digital consultancy called The Nerdery which went on to make Inc. Magazine's list of 5000 fastest-growing private companies in its first nine years of eligibility. In 2014, Mike co-founded Prime Digital Academy, a school for software engineers and UX designers. Prime has gone on to become part of The White House Tech Hire initiative. Mike recently co-founded BunnyCup Winery.

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JONATHAN WARREY

BOARD TREASURER

Jonathan Warrey // Treasurer

VP of Managed Services, Retired COO of Marco Technologies / North Dakota State Representative

Jonathan combines his extensive sales and service experience to help drive Marco’s continued growth and impact. An idealist at heart, he sees what can be and then enjoys bringing people together to achieve big outcomes. Over the years, Jonathan has been instrumental in helping shape Marco’s growth and creating a place where people love to come to work and do business. When he’s not at Marco, you can find him fully investing in his community and family. He enjoys spending time at the lake, playing the drums, reading about history, watching all sports, and traveling with his wife and two adult children.

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ANGIE COOPER

Angie Cooper serves as president of Heartland Forward, overseeing strategy, public policy, programming and Heartland Forward’s flagship event, the Heartland Summit.

As president, Angie is focused on being a resource for states and communities – turning Heartland Forward’s research into action, creating new partnerships and leading public policy solutions for state and local communities across the 20 states in the heartland region.

For more than 16 years, Angie worked in international and domestic public policy and government affairs for Walmart Stores, Inc., most recently as senior director of global public policy. Angie also worked in various departments within Walmart including, merchandising, public affairs, state and local government relations and the Walmart foundation.
While at Walmart, Angie served as Walmart’s chair of the Women’s Resource Council (WRC). Angie has also been on the board for the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) and served as board chair of Common Threads.

In 2023, Angie was recognized as an emerging leader by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society for her work on the #1 economic issue of our time – providing everyone access to affordable high-speed internet. She is recognized as a Top 100 Women of Impact in Arkansas and in 2024 was appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC).

Angie is a native of Oklahoma and a graduate of Oklahoma State University.

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HOWARD DAHL

Howard Dahl
President & CEO, Amity Technology, LLC

Howard Dahl is CEO of Amity Technology, a company that builds sugar beet harvesting equipment and other farm machinery and sells the equipment throughout the world. He comes from a family that developed the Bobcat loader and has been building machinery in North Dakota for 75 years. Howard received his B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of North Dakota, studied philosophy as a graduate student at the University of Florida and completed an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Howard currently serves on several boards including the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., LongWater Opportunities Private Equity Fund, Astarta (leading sugar producer in Ukraine) and the Luis Palau Association. He is a former director of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. He and his wife Ann have three children and eight grandchildren.

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HEIDI HEITKAMP

Former U.S. Senator / Founder & Chair of the One Country Project / Former Director, University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics (IOP)
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp was the first female senator elected from North Dakota, serving from 2013–2019. During her six years in the U.S. Senate, Heitkamp quickly became a proven senator who worked across the aisle to fight for North Dakotans. She personally showed that if senators work together, it can lead to real solutions. Throughout her time in public service, Heidi prioritized improving the lives of Indigenous people and working families; stopping human trafficking and violence against women; guaranteeing affordable health care; addressing childhood trauma; eliminating unnecessary regulation and securing a U.S. energy policy that keeps costs low but achieves climate goals. Providing equal economic opportunity for Rural America continues to be her lifelong pursuit. Heitkamp previously served as North Dakota’s Attorney General, and elected State Tax Commissioner. She serves on numerous boards including The McCain Institute, The Howard Buffett Foundation, Restore Democracy Initiative and The German Marshall Fund. She is the founder and Chair of the One Country Project, an organization focused on addressing the needs and concerns of rural America. She serves as a contributor to both CNBC and ABC News.

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JAHMY HINDMAN

Jahmy Hindman is Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer of Deere & Company, a position he has held since July 2020. He is responsible for building Deere’s “tech stack,” the company’s intuitive end-to-end equipment solution made up of hardware and devices, embedded software, connectivity, data platforms, and applications. He leads the company’s Intelligent Solutions Group, its global network of technology/innovations centers, and the shared engineering function.

Under Hindman’s leadership, John Deere has received CES ® Innovation Awards for four consecutive years in a variety of categories including Robotics, Vehicle Intelligence & Transportation, and Sustainability, Eco-Design & Smart Energy. The company was also awarded eight AE50 Awards for innovative product engineering from ASABE. Through the innovations in Hindman’s organization, John Deere is helping customers be more productive, more profitable, and do their jobs in more sustainable ways.

Working in both the Agriculture & Turf and Construction & Forestry divisions, Hindman has more than 25 years of advanced technology, artificial intelligence, product engineering, and manufacturing experience. Most recently, he led the engineering team for Deere’s flagship tractor product line.

Hindman joined John Deere in 1996 as a test engineer working on backhoes and crawlers. Subsequent leadership roles included Global Manager, Architectures, Systems and Modules; platform architect for the tractor product lines; Manager, Large Tractor Chassis; general manager and engineering manager at Deere’s construction-equipment factory in Tianjin, China; and product marketing manager and engineering supervisor for four-wheel-drive construction loaders.

Hindman holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. His doctorate focused on the application of artificial neural networks in heavy-equipment applications. He sits on the College of Engineering Advisory Board for Iowa State University, the University of Texas Department of Computer Science Advisory Council, and the Executive Advisory Council for FIRST.

Deere & Company (JohnDeere.com) is a world leader in providing advanced products, technology, and services for customers whose work is revolutionizing agriculture and construction — those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich, and build upon the land to meet the world’s increasing need for food, fuel, shelter, and infrastructure.

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GREG TEHVEN

Greg Tehven 
CEO & Co-founder, Emerging Prairie / Co-Founder, Grand Farm

Greg Tehven is the CEO & Co-founder of Emerging Prairie, an organization creating a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurs, innovators, and technologists, and Co-founder and Board Chair of Grand Farm, an initiative dedicated to finding innovative solutions in agriculture through technology. As a fifth-generation North Dakotan, he is proud to call Fargo home and is passionate about bringing big ideas to the region. Greg holds a degree from the University of Minnesota and has completed Stanford's Graduate School of Business Social Entrepreneurship Executive Course. He is happily married to an entrepreneur and Dad to three wonderful kids.

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